xtremely poor w/ xtremely bad luck <xtremely poor w/ xtremely bad
luck@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>My hard drive died (conveniently on the first day of summer school). My
>version of Windows XP SP2 came on my laptop. It's barely 2 years old. I have
>my product key, but I do not have a boot cd because, of course, none came
>with my laptop.
>
>I'm a poor college student; if it weren't for McDonald's Dollar Menu, I'd
>also be a starving. How can I install Windows XP again... (cost effectively)?

Microsoft's licensing terms require that computer manufacturers
provide a method by which the operating system can be reinstalled
"factory fresh". Just how this is done is left up to each individual
computer manufacturer. With some computers you are prompted to create
a set of recovery CDs or DVDs when you first start using the new
machine. Others have a hidden hard drive partition and in a few
instances they actually include a recovery disk.

Check the documentation that came with your computer or contact the
manufacturer's technical support to find out how to recover the
operating system.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."